Alcaraz Shows Impressive Form, New Look, In Winning Shanghai Opener

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (photo: Rolex Shanghai Masters)

SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 10, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Carlos Alcaraz arrived earlier this week for the Rolex Shanghai Masters, the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the 2026 season, in a good frame of mind. After all, he had just successfully defended his Japan Open title in Tokyo, which rewarded him with his third ATP Tour title of the season following earlier triumphs at the Australian Open and Doha.

Alcaraz is back on tour – healthy, at last – and starting to play good, front-footed tennis, again. Also, Alcaraz is sporting a surprising new look: a freshly-trimmed mustache.

“It’s going to stay for the week,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview after defeating 55th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, 6-3, 6-3. “I always wanted to step on court at least once with a mustache. Before Tokyo with the team, we said, ‘If I win the tournament, we all have to do the moustache and play Shanghai with it.’ We’re having fun with it. It came to stay.”

The World No. 3 and second-seeded Alcaraz needed just an hour and six minutes to advance past Cerundolo in a featured match on Stadium Court at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center Saturday evening. Alcaraz used the quick court conditions to his advantage and effectively attacked Cerundolo after making a mid-match adjustment. 

Earlier in the week, Alcaraz spoke at length about why he enjoys coming to play in China and also of his appreciation for Chinese tennis fans.

“The fans are super passionate about, I would say, any sports, which I think is great for the community,” he said during his pre-tournament news conference on Thursday.

“Yeah, I just love every time that I come here, because I think they appreciate good tennis, the matches, every time that you just walk around, I think it’s great. Yeah, the people are super into it. As I said, it’s a great swing, I love being here.

“Obviously, it is at the end of the season. Sometimes, the players might come here a little bit tired, mentally, physically. But thanks to the people and thanks to the fans, I think they push us up to have a good energy on the matches and on the practices, which is great.”

Against Cerundolo, Alcaraz struck 24 winners to 18 unforced errors, won 86 percent (31 of 36) of his first-serve points and converted three of seven break points. He outpointed Cerundolo 58-42.

Alcaraz, who recently returned after a nearly-five-month absence from the ATP Tour while recovering from a right wrist injury, was asked about being fresher than many – if not most – of the players, who are competing in Shanghai. Did Alcaraz, who improved to 33-4 after defeating Cerundolo, think it might give him an advantage?

“Well, yeah, I wouldn’t say my body, because, you know, after being such a long time without competition, when I just start going back to the tour, playing matches, really demanding physically matches, it feels like the body is not used to it, and it might cause a little bit of minor problems,” he said. “For us it’s really normal to feel that.

“But I’m feeling fresh mentally, which for me it’s the most important thing. I’m ready to take the challenge of this tournament. If we see a couple years back, you know, probably this swing or this part of the season; it’s never been my best one.

“So, right now I just want to be in a good state for this tournament, because I really want to win the tournaments, this one and the tournaments that I have in a couple months at least one day. So right now, I think it’s an extra boost that I have for the rest of the season.”

Next, Alcaraz will face No. 39 Zizou Bergs of Belgium, who advanced with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over No. 32 seed Ignacio Buse of Peru.

Will Djokovic resurface this season? Yes.

During a brief mixed zone interview after falling to Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, Friday evening, four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic, now 19-7 on the 2026 season, was asked by a reporter what his end of the season tournament plans were.

“I would like to [play the Nitto ATP Finals],” he said. “I am planning on only playing in Paris, so let’s see. Hopefully I can have a good result there.”

Defending champ Vacherot begins title defense with 10th straight win

What a difference a year has made in the life of 27-year-old Valentin Vacherot of Monaco. Last year, ranked 204th, Vacherot pulled off arguably the upset of the year by winning the Shanghai title – his first and only ATP Tour crown to date – over his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech of France. He went from qualifier to champion.

Now, Vacherot, who is seeded 17th this week, is ranked World No. 14. He began his Shanghai title defense against No. 53 Sebastian Baez of Argentina with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory in one hour and 26 minutes on Stadium Court Saturday evening. Vacherot struck 15 aces and hit 25 winners overall. He outpointed Baez 72-60.

“I knew tonight was not going to be easy at all, to come back to this center court where so much happened a year ago,” Vacherot said during his on-court interview. “Especially against someone like Sebastian, who competes and puts so many balls in the court. In the second set, I had everything under control, but he fought well. I’m happy with my tie-break.”

Vacherot came in having strung together a 23-16 win-loss record while earning more than $1.5 million in prize money this season. Now, he’s off and running – with a 10-match winning streak in Shanghai dating back to qualifying for last year’s event – and next will face No. 14 seed Tommy Paul in the third round on Monday. Paul advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over 52nd-ranked Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay.

Around the Rolex Shanghai Masters

• Rafael Jodar of Spain won in his Shanghai debut, battling past No. 54 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in two hours and two minutes on Show Court 3 to move into the third round. The 20-year-old World No. 13 hit 28 winners and saved all six break points he faced. He outpointed Tirante 83-78. 

“I had to play very good today to win my match, and happy how I handled the important moments,” Jodar said during a mixed zone interview. “Thiago was a very good player today, he did the things very well, as well as me. But, yes, few points from me today I think kind of balanced the game in my way.”

Next, Jodar will face No. 22 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, who advanced past 51st-ranked Nuno Borges of Portugal, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

• No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada needed two hours and 58 minutes to put away his 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 victory over No. 77 Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina on Stadium Court. By the conclusion, Auger-Aliassime compiled 42 winners – including 14 aces – to offset 42 unforced errors. He outpointed Ugo Carabelli 118-101 and will face No. 65 Pablo Carreño Busta of Spain, who eliminated No. 29 seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in the third round.

“A lot of time on court, three hours, so a lot of ups and downs,” Auger-Aliassime said during a mixed zone interview. “So, let’s see, in the next few rounds, I’m going to try to make all this a bit tighter.”

• Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia garnered his ATP Tour-leading 31st hard-court victory with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 59 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany. He fired 21 aces and finished with 40 winners overall. It was the 10th time in 12 meetings that the World No. 6 has defeated Struff. 

• No. 8 Arthur Fils of France, No. 11 Taylor Fritz of the United States,  No. 14 Learner Tien of the United States and No. 20 Casper Ruud of Norway were among the seeded players advancing to the third round. However, No. 18 Luciano Darderi of Italy, No. 28 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, and No. 31 Alex Michelsen of the United States were among the seeded players to fall.

World No. 11 Fils, who is battling for a berth in the Nitto ATP Finals – and is currently seventh in the Live Race To Turin – defeated 187th-ranked Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov, 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 16 minutes on Grandstand 2.

Fritz, ranked 12th, beat No. 38 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours on Grandstand 2, while Ruud overcame Chinese No. 1 Bu Yunchaokete, 6-1, 7-6 (2), after saving a pair of set points at 5-6 in the second set and pulling out a straight-set win by taking the tie-break. The victory leveled Ruud’s hard-court record this season at 10-10.

Also, Tien defeated No. 82 Zachary Svajda in an all-American battle, 7-5, 7-5. 

Meanwhile, Darderi lost to No. 43 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, 6-3, 6-4, which was the 400th career tour-level win for the Greek star. Also, Etcheverry was upset by 126th-ranked qualifier Dalibor Svrcina of Czechia, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in two hours and 58 minutes. Michelsen was eliminated by No. 41 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-4.

Saturday’s Shanghai Masters results

Sunday’s Shanghai Masters order of play

By the numbers

With Hubert Hurkacz‘s upset victory over four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic Friday evening – his first win over Djokovic – the Polish star has won eight straight matches in Shanghai dating back to his 2023 title run. He’s also the fourth man to earn tour-level wins over Djokovic on hard courts, Rafael Nadal on clay and Roger Federer on grass, joining Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev. Hurkacz is 15-2 in Chinese ATP Tour events since 2020, including reaching the Chengdu final and Beijing semifinals in the last two weeks.

“Quotable …”

“It’s been amazing. It’s hard to describe. It’s got to be one of the toughest matches I’ve played. I really enjoy the process and I’m really happy to still stay on this court the next two days. I’m really happy to see myself play on the Center Court again and see myself improve.”

– Zhou Yi, 21, of China, following his 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (1) upset of No. 24 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the second round Friday night on Stadium Court. The 277th-ranked wild card is through to the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time after achieving the biggest win of his pro career.

 

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